Description

SJ 99 SW, 1/196

WERNETH,
CASTLE HILL,
Bredbury,
Arden Hall

29.3.66

II

Great house. 1597 said to be on date stone. For the Ardern
family. Dressed stone with ashlar dressings and stone slate
roof. Great hall entered through the side of the central
tower-like feature. Formerly of three storeys although now in a
ruinous state as it has been for a century or more.
Watchtower at rear. Two towers remain on the front, a third
(now demolished) completed the symmetry. Each is of three
storeys with 3-light chamfered mullion window on the lower two
floors, stepped 3-light window with cusped heads on the
second floor and stepped gables (to centre only). Left side
has similar central stepped gable, two storeys and a 5-light
stepped cusp-headed window with stepped transoms. Rear too
has stepped gables and a central projecting stair/
observation tower with octagonal top storey. Tower has two 3-
light chamfered mullion windows and four 2-light double-
chamfered mullion windows to octagonal stage which has a
shallow pyramidal roof. The site is moated and looks over
the Tame Valley. An important survival of an unusual and
distinctive building. Interior not inspected.

Listing NGR: SJ9188993310

External Links

• Historic England Listing
• Wikidata Q26551043

External links are from the relevant listing authority and, where applicable, Wikidata. Wikidata IDs may be related buildings as well as this specific building. If you want to add or update a link, you will need to do so by editing the Wikidata entry.

Recommended Books

• 
  Gwent/Monmouthshire (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Buildings of Wales)
• 
  Somerset: North and Bristol: The Buildings of England (Pevsner Architectural Guides) (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Buildings of England)
• 
  Oxfordshire (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Buildings of England)
• 
  Huddersfield in 50 Buildings
• 
  Devon (Pevsner Buildings of England)
• 
  Listed Buildings: The Law and Practice of Historic Buildings, Ancient Monuments and Conservation Areas